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Date: 30 June 2009

Subject : Dropped object involving BX rotator

Product : BX rotator (P/N 202027)

Objective : To inform customer and users of an incident, whereby a BX rotator broke and
fell on the rig floor.

Issue : NOV has received a report of a BX rotator (P/N 202027) falling to the rig floor.
There were no injuries reported in this incident. During the incident, the rotator
link adaptor broke from the elevator by shearing its 4 bolts and 4 dowel pins. In
addition, the safety cable also broke during this incident (see picture 1 and 2
below).



Picture 1, Sheared bolts and dowel pins Picture 2, Broken safety cable

Product Information Bulletin No.: 128
Handling Tools

SAFETY ALERT



www.nov.com
The rotator involved in the reported incident is of the first design BX rotators (P/N 202027,
see picture 3 below). The new model BX rotator (P/N 50004130, see picture 4 below) was
not involved in the reported incident.



Picture 3, BX rotator (P/N 202027) Picture 4, BX rotator (P/N 50004130)


Solution: NOV is currently analyzing the cause of the incident and will release a revision
to this product bulletin to advise users and customers of any recommended design changes
or a revision to the maintenance/operation procedure once the process is completed.

In the meantime, NOV recommends that users visually inspect the condition of the safety
cable and all other rotator parts prior to, and during operation.



Operators should also refer to previous NOV Product Information Bulletins and Safety
Alerts at http://www.nov.com/drilling and http://pp.nov.com/ for additional information
regarding safe operation, maintenance, and inspection criteria.

Please contact your local National Oilwell Varco (NOV) Service Center if you have any
questions regarding this Product Information Bulletin.

Failure to follow the recommendations and/or guidance in NOV Product Bulletins may result
in death, bodily injury or property damage.